Talking Cane or Walking Stick

How about this great talking cane or walking stick custom made for me by Pat Harris of Baltimore (www.hometown.aol.com/peebie3). Beyond his striking good looks (ha!) is his moving mouth so that I can use him as a voice of conscience. The kids seem to enjoy him and so do I. Yet another way to talk for two!

Revival of Ventriloquism?

Several ventriloquists are reporting a renewed interest in their art following David Letterman's ventriloquist week earlier this fall. Bookings are up and many are re-discovering this unique creative art.

David Letterman-- ventriloquist week!

You got to love it-- David Letterman is featuring ventriloquists all week long Sept. 18th - 23rd. It will be great to see Dunham's Walter and others. Get your TIVOs and VCRs ready.

Sunday School Teacher Fired Because of Gender

Just a few weeks ago, a woman who had been teaching Sunday School in the First Baptist Church of Watertown, NY state was fired because she was a woman. (see http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/21/menonly.sundayschool.ap/index.html) The church's new pastor, Rev. Tim LeBouf, cited a passage in I Timothy saying that women should be quiet in church and should not be teaching men. As a result, the dear woman who was teaching Sunday School longer than the pastor was alive, was fired from this volunteer position.

It is always amazing to see how rigid and wooden we can become at interpreting the Bible. In the verse before the one quoted, it forbids the braiding of hair and wearing of gold or silver jewelry by women. If you want to be literal than be consistent. In the verse following the one cited by the pastor, it says that women are saved by bearing children. Again, if you want to be literal, than be consistent in your approach. Don't pick and choose.

It seems to me that the best approach to interpreting Scripture is to compare it with other Scripture. If so, you will discover that there are only two places in the New Testament suggesting that women should be quiet in the church. Both instances are riddled with textual problems. In the Timothy passage, the writer seems to be saying "I don't let women..." which may indicate his personal preference rather than a lasting doctrine. Beyond this, many suggest that this writing reflects a non-Pauline, non-first century vocabulary. The other place that quiet women are mentioned is in Corinthians. This passage also has problems as it is clearly an insertion. The discussion before and after the verses in question relate to speaking in tongues. And moreover, the same writer just a few chapters earlier specifically says that when women speak/prophesy/preach in church, they should do so with their heads covered. Clearly the same writer wouldn't give instructions on how women are to preach in church if he strictly forbade it.

The long and short of it is, before you disenfranchise half of humanity from doing the work of God, you better have firm Scriptural footing. Keeping women from teaching Sunday School that may include men is as silly as keeping women from proclaiming the good news.

talking cane or talking walking stick

Here is a unique, hand-carved, item that ventriloquists can have a lot of fun with. It is a talking cane or talking walking stick. It was hand made by Gene Wolden of California and features a farmer figure on top with the lyrics to old McDonald written in a spiral fasion down the cane. The lever to move his mouth is counterbalanced to operate easily. It is as much a piece of art as it is a novelty ventriloquist figure.

Kinder, Gentler SBC?

The Southern Baptists elected a new President who promises to move the 16 million member denomination to be a kinder, gentler body. He is the first President in years to be elected without the support of the "power-brokers." While we would not suspect that the SBC would move an inch toward the middle of the theological spectrum, it is of some comfort that the new President is mission-minded and has an interest in making appointments who share a kind and gentle spirit. Who knows, perhaps there is some hope for the SBC after all?

Tribute to Barnaby

I read that Linn Sheldon died on Sunday, April 23rd at age 86. Sheldon was one of the most creative fellows around. He is remembered far an wide by people in northeast Ohio for his creation of the loveable children's character named Barnaby.

Sheldon was on TV in Ohio for 42 years. His loveable elf character lived in an enchanted forest and had an invisible parrot side kick named Longjohn. He depended upon his ventriloquist skills and the power of a child's imagination to create a wonderful experience for the boys and girls.

Barnaby was loved by all because he was gentle, wholesome, and children could feel his warmth and love. Even today, some 35-40 years later, I can remember the way he would welcome children, "Hi neighbor!" and the way he would sign off at the end of his show, saying something encouraging and endearing and then saying "If anyone asks, tell them Barnaby said hello."

While his real life was a bit more troubled, the enchanted forrest was a place of wonder and joy for the children of Northeastern Ohio. Children need more folks like Barnaby and Mr. Rogers. May they rest in peace and hear the words of their creator, "well done my good and faithful servant."

There's More to Easter than Dyeing!

It is funny what you hear on the radio. Scanning across the radio stations to find something worth listening to the other day I stumbled across some talk show host ranting and raving because a mall wanted refer to it's seasonal character, a long eared rodent, as the Spring Bunny, instead of the Easter Bunny. The talk show host went on a tear about how this name change was all about political correctness and how we should not allow "them," whoever "them" was, to take away Easter.
People were calling in all worked up and agreeing with this notion saying, "It is an Easter bunny not a spring bunny. Don't let them take away Easter!"
I just shook my head and mumbled, "idiots," and kept on channel surfing. I couldn't believe that people would equate "the Easter bunny" with "Easter." Reducing Easter to little more than a mythological, long-eared, hopping rodent who delivers sugar and cholesterol to children is as bizzare as it is offensive to people of faith.
People get so caught up in the eggs and the candy and the baskets and the ham and the dinner and the jelly beans and the chocolate bunnies, and the plastic grass, and the peeps, and dyeing the eggs that they lose sight of Easter. So on our church marquee sign I wrote, "there is more to Easter than dyeing."
As Paul wrote to the Corinthians ( I Corinthians 15:3-8), Jesus died and was burried. He rose from the grave and made appearances to many. No eggs, no jelly beans, no rodent-- just Christ, crucified, dead, burried, and resurrected. He lives. He conquered the grave and so can we who believe in him and follow his way.

McLeod's Daughters

We have really come to enjoy a wonderful television program from Australia called McLeod's Daughters. Some have described it as television the way it used to be in the US-- good story lines, clean, and inspiring. It has been showing on the WE Network until today, April 1st, which will be the last show.

In the U.S. we are at the end of the 3rd season of this fine show, but the Australians are ahead of us, watching season 6. With the program going off of the WE network, fans of the show are writing everyone and their brother to get another network to pick up seasons 4-6 so we can continue with our program and see what happens to the women of Drover's Run.

One solution for the really dedicated has been to order DVDs of the next season from Australia. Since Australian DVDs are set up to be played on Australian DVD players, they will not work with US DVD players unless you find out how to "hack" your dvd player so it will play DVDs from all regions. Fortunately, this information is readily available on the Internet and for most DVD players, it is a fairly easy process that involves little more than pressing a few different buttons on a remote control.

For some of us, today is not only the day when the WE network drops McLeod's Daughters but will also be the day when we drop WE network from our viewing and satellite menus. I for one cannot believe they would drop a show like this which is at the top of the Nielsen ratings in Australia and keep shows like Bridezilla, Daddy's Spoiled Little Girl, and other mindless drivel. Go figure!

If you hear when McLeod's Daughters gets picked up by another network, please drop me an email! Bowties@cox.net

Homiletics or Harm-a-letics?

Today, one of my New Testament students was talking about how the Bible is interpreted. He kept mispronouncing homiletics (the study of the interpretation of the text) as "harm-a-letics." After a few mispronunciations I couldn't take it any more and said, "harm-a-letics" happens a lot, it is when people do violence to the text. What you mean is homiletics, which is the process of interpreting the text."

Which do you do-- homiletics or harm-a-letics?

The Power of Love

This past Sunday was Youth Sunday at Colonial Ave. Baptist Church. It is always an inspiring service when our talented and creative youth take the lead. This service was particularly moving because of the actions of a boy who has a touch of autism. One of youth was giving the message and was struggling to get through a point related to her parent's divorce a few years ago. She was choked up and was trying as hard as she could to keep back the tears. Then all of a sudden, the grade school child stood up, stepped into the aisle, and walked right up to the pulpit where the young lady was speaking and looked lovingly into her eyes. He knew she was struggling and wanted to let her know that he loved her, even if the only way he knew how was to stand beside her in a difficult time. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as we understood the message.
How often have we seen others hurting and didn't know what to do, when all of the while, what they needed was someone to stand with them and let them know by our presence that we love them. It was a profound message from such a young child. But as they say, "a little child shall lead them."

Making Legs for a Puppet

Does anyone have recommendations on the best way to create legs for a puppet. The puppet currently is a half-bodied rod arm puppet and I would like to make a pair of simple legs that will allow this puppet to be used as a ventriloquism figure.

The legs should allow the puppet to sit naturally and the legs should bend properly. It is trouble when the knee bends the wrong way or the feet are all twisted around. Any secrets to make the legs look right?

Thanks!

Where Everyone Knows Your Name. . .

Several years ago, one of the popular sitcoms on television was Cheers. The song that played while the opening credits ran spoke of a place where everyone knew your name and was glad you came. The program involved a local pub, but how true the sentiment that people enjoy the places where folks know them by name and are glad they came.

As a pastor of a church, helping to encourage or create such an environment is an important task in ministry. This sentiment is true in other settings as well. Colleges for instance-- some are so huge that by necessity, an individual is reduced to a number. Others, however, are small enough to offer a quality educational experience where individuals are known by name. When students miss class, professors notice and are concerned.

I was very impressed with the personal touch of Carson-Newman College on our recent visit there. Students often eat with the college President, professors call their students when they are missing and know them by name. It is a caring community where people know your name and are glad you came!

It is hard for me to believe that schools with 10,000 applications can do much more than look at the numbers and make a decision. But the smaller school can give each application the personal attention that each person deserves. Discovering that "fit" between student and school is so important. The smaller school has a way of putting together the talents of the student with the areas in the college where those talents can be used. That personal touch takes time, effort, and concern.

After our family visit to Carson-Newman College, my wife and I (with 7 degrees between us) said to each other, "Wow, this is the kind of school I would like to attend." It is a place where everyone knows your name and is glad you came!

A Talking Cane or Walking Stick?

I am interested in finding a cane or walking stick with a figure on the top that has a moving mouth. So I guess that makes it a talking stick or a talking cane. What a fun novelty ventriloquist item that could turn out to be.

Scott American Gothic

Thanks to our good friend, Trevor Ruble, we now have Scott American Gothic! Thanks Trevor! No doubt this will be a great poster for our new study on this iconic picture by Grant Wood.

American Gothic Parodies

Who can forget the Grant Wood picture of the stern faced old man holding a pitchfork with his daughter by his side? This famous 1930s picture is titled, "American Gothic" and has been the source of many parodies. Mickey & Minnie Mouse have posed in American Gothic style, as have Miss Piggy and Kermit. If you have images of American Gothic please contact me at my email address jeff@cabc.us

Where Are the Puppets?

It has been my habit to use ventriloquism figures in the church during the 11am worship service. The children seem to enjoy them and the big kids really like them. This past Christmas season, we have allowed the children to do the children's sermon instead of me, the pastor, leading them. The first Sunday of the new year, I was back doing the children's sermon. Instead of using a puppet or vent figure, I used another prop to illustrate the point. One of the pre-teens in the pews turned to his buddy and said, "Hey, where are the puppets?" There was a tone in his voice as if he had been cheated. I guess even the middle schoolers have come to enjoy a visit with a dummy when they come to church!

Happy New Year!